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The Upstart Crow

Ben Elton brings his critically acclaimed and much adored BBC sitcom UPSTART CROW to its natural home, the stage, with an all-new comic play set to delight London’s West End. Starring David Mitchell, once more donning the bald wig and bardish coddling pouch in his iconic characterisation of Will Shakespeare and Gemma Whelan as the sweet and fragrant Kate.

‘Tis 1605 and England’s greatest playwright is in trouble. Will Shakespeare has produced just two plays; Measure for Measure, which according to King James was incomprehensible bollingbrokes by any measure, and All’s Well That End’s Well which didn’t even end well.

Will desperately needs to maketh a brilliant new play to bolster his reputation and avoid being cast aside by King and country. But Will’s personal life is encountering more dramatic twists and turns than any theatrical story he can conjure. How the futtock can a Bard be expected to find a plot for a play whilst his daughters run amok and his house is used as refuge for any old waif and stray.

As time runs out, can Will hold on to his dream of being recognised now and for all time, as indisputably the greatest writer that ever lived, or will family woes thwart Will’s chances of producing his masterwork?

‘The most consistently funny comedy since One Man Two Guvnors.’ ★★★★★ The Guardian‘A hit, a hit, an implausible hit!’ ★★★★ The Independent‘Elton’s brilliant Upstart Crow is Jacobean satire straight out of the Blackadder playbook’ ★★★★ Daily Mail‘This play deserves love lavished upon it. It is hard to resist the delirious silliness. Entirely captivating’ ★★★★ What’s On Stage‘The laughter is communal and continual. Just the hey nonny-nonny nonsense the doctor ordered’ ★★★★ The Telegraph ‘A terrific Shakespeare spoof’ ★★★★ The Arts Desk